Hi anyone and all,

If you're thinking of getting a J pouch, I'll tell you that I'm really glad I did it. I couldn't have done it without good medical insurance and a really good doctor, but I'm sure happy to have my life back. The recovery period was grueling, and my beautiful wife deserves the credit for getting me through that. I honestly can't imagine changing my own ileostomy pouch (yes, I know how lucky that makes me).

The first month after my colectomy and temp. ileostomy were the hardest by far. The worst part was living so far from the ET nurse and having a terrible time with leaking and burning around my stoma. For me it was some horrible kind of hell that I thought I'd never escape. But eventually, with the help of a local ET nurse and my wife, we got the leakage managed with an ileostomy belt and a convex disposable pouch. That made things so much better when we could go 3-5 days between changes! After a while, it just got to be tiresome to empty the pouch, but it wasn't horrible.

I had my ileostomy for four months, and had my TD in early November. After a near brush with a partial blockage after release from the hospital, and another five days in my local hospital, my recovery has pretty much followed an upward trajectory.

Yes, there are still some issues. I still battle fecal incontinence at night a little, so I wear Depends and a folded wad of TP to bed. It's great for the sex life... NOT! My sex drive is still there, but it's pretty minimal, but it could also be about work stress.

The cramping and stretching I initially had in my J Pouch have disappeared. I barely ever see blood in my stool, and butt burn has almost never been a problem. When it has come along, it's been easy to treat with A&D, flushable wet wipes, and more fiber wafers. I'm so happy to be able to get physical around our house, even if my strength is only back 80%. I'm ecstatic that I can run, jump, lift, strain, pull, dig, operate power tools, lay on my tummy, do push ups and sit ups.

Sure, my stools are probably always going to be soft, but now they don't send me cramping and clutching my way to the bathroom with clamped cheeks and messy accidents. Now, I can feel the bowel urge, and hold it for up to 15 or 20 minutes if I'm really into an activity. Not that I try to tempt fate, but sometimes I just want to know if I can say "in a minute."

And I can.

Good wishes to all of you.

David

Glad to hear you're doing so well, Dave. Hope you continue to improve.

TAL

This is so true. I always tell people, “Everythings not perfect, but I am so much better than I was”.

Here here!

When I look back and remember just how sick I was before my surgeries I thank god each and every day that I have my life back again!!! Sure, there are a few problems and the occasional set back, but so what, I'm alive and healthy!! I know it's so chiche, but be thankful for what you have, because we all know it could be so much worse!

Cheers!
Eric

I agree with Tad.
My health is certainly better than it was with UC.